This past weekend, 32 of our seminarians traveled to Washington D.C. for the 2020 March for Life. The weekend filled our seminarians with a profound awareness and desire to support human life at every stage. Our seminarians also were able to see God’s graces at work in His people, and in this nation.
On Thursday, January 23 our seminarians participated in the Vigil Mass for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The principal celebrant and homilist was Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities. Following the Mass was a National Rosary for Life, confessions, and holy hours for life led by pro-life seminarians from across the country from 11 p.m. – 6 a.m.
The march began at noon on Friday, January 24 from 12th St. on the National Mall and ended on Constitution Avenue. Among the thousands and thousands of women and men of all ages that were walking in support of the pro-life movement, our seminarians encountered many joy-filled high school and university students, other seminarians from across the country, religious, priests, families, and international visitors.
“I have been on the March several times, but this was my first as a seminarian,” said Kevin Gregus, a first-year theologian from the Archdiocese of Chicago. “My favorite part this year was preparing for the Vigil Mass for Life in the basilica crypt, surrounded by hundreds of other seminarians, deacons, and priests. It was a beautiful witness to living out the Christian anthropology we all learn about in class–that we are wonderfully made in the image of a loving God.”
Let us pray: Lord God, continue to pour out your graces upon our seminarians on their journey of discernment. We praise you for all the ways that this march helps the pro-life movement. We thank you for all those who were in attendance at the march and those who were united in prayer. Lord, you are present and moving in this country, and we ask that you continue to build in our seminarians a desire to spread God’s love and a culture of life. We ask this all through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the unborn.
